32 PRE-HISTORY IN ESSEX.
XVIII.—Deneholes, Silos, Chalk Pits.
Hangman's Wood. Grays, visits to (T. & P., iii., 1882, pp.
xxviii.-xli., gives extracts from earlier descriptions ; T. & P.
iii., 1882, pp. lvi.-lx. ; Proc.,iv., 1883, pp. xx.-xxiii. ; Proc.,
iv., 1885, pp. cl.-clii., to view the results of the explorations;
E.N., i., 1887, p. 202 ; vii., 1893, pp. 143-148, plans and
sections ; x., 1898, pp. 408-409 ; xv., 1908, pp. 143-144).
Much detailed information, interesting discussions, etc.,
are to be found in the above reports. 265
General (T. V. Holmes, T. & P., iii., 1882, pp. 48-58, 2 plates
of maps and sections). Supports the theory that they were
both places of concealment against enemies, and also store-
chambers. 266
Grays and General (T. V. Holmes, Trans., iv., 1886, pp. 87-
110, 5 figs.). Describes those of Grays and elsewhere.
Attacks Mr. Roach Smith's theory that they were chalk-
pits. The latter author quotes Pliny, who describes pits
used in Britain for procuring chalk, these answering to the
characters of the deneholes. Comparison is made with
small and shallow underground chambers at Winklebury
and the Isle of Portland, in which the remains of corn
have been found. These latter are presumably to be com-
pared with the "Rock Granaries" of Southern India. 267
General (F. C. J. Spurrell, Proc., iv., 1883, pp. lviii.-lx.).
Argues in favour of their being granaries. 268
The Pen Pits (T. V. Holmes, Proc., iv., 1885, p. cliv.). Pitt-
Rivers has shown that these pits were mines for obtaining
stone for making querns, etc. 269
Lexden, subsidence (T. V. Holmes, E.N.. i., 1887, pp. 1-8,
5 figs. ; O. Fisher, E.N., i., 1887, p. 39 ; T. V. Holmes,
E.N., i., 1887, p. 95). Controversy upon the origin of
the subsidence : whether due to a land-slide, or the falling
in of an ancient pit or mine. 270
Bexley (T. V. Holmes, E.N.. i., 1887, p. 187). 271
Grays (E.N., i., 1887, p. 188). Quotation from Camden's
"Britannia" (1610); description and reproduction of
figure of Hangman's Wood deneholes. 272
Grays (T. V. Holmes and W. Cole, Report on the Denehole
Exploration at Hangman's Wood, Grays, 1884 and 1887,
E.N. i., 1887, p. 225-260 ; 9 figs., 3 pl.). The deneholes
consist of shafts sunk through some 60 feet of Thanet sand
and drift gravel, into the underlying chalk. At the base
of the shafts a series of lofty chambers cut in the chalk,
with about 3 feet of chalk roof left, open out on either hand.
Surface trenching showed that the material from the shafts